Costa's cryptic callout: Will he take on Aliskerov in UFC?
30 December 2025
Costa's cryptic challenge
The Brazilian fighter Paulo Costa has offered a cryptic response to Ikram Aliskerov's call to face him, after the two were reportedly set to meet earlier.
Even as UFC's return on Paramount remains weeks away with UFC 324, 325 and 326 on the horizon, the 2026 fight calendar is taking shape, with UFC 324, 325 and 326 listed alongside a slate of Fight Night events.
The plan to pit Costa against his countryman Bruno Ferreira on March 7 at UFC 326 has been floated, before reports of his withdrawal surfaced.
Online exchanges between Costa and his potential middleweight rival Aliskerov intensified, as Aliskerov referenced UFC matchmaker Mick Maynard and urged the delayed clash be decided in the cage.
The exchange, the posts, and the manager behind the call-out
In a blunt social post, Aliskerov wrote: Paulo, I was in Utah ready to fight and you vanished. Let’s settle this inside the cage. No withdrawals, no excuses. Mick Maynard, I am ready.
Costa appeared to signal tentative agreement by replying to Aliskerov's post, then added a tongue-in-cheek note on Instagram wondering if Ali Abdelaziz's manager was behind the challenge.
If Costa is serious about taking the fight, the reason he pulled out of the Ferreira bout at UFC 326 seems unlikely to keep him away from action for long.
Costa, nicknamed The Eraser, had climbed toward a middleweight title shot after an unbeaten run that ended with a knockout loss to Israel Adesanya at UFC 253.
Since then, the Brazilian has battled to stay active, losing twice in back-to-back decisions against former middleweight champions Robert Whittaker and Sean Strickland, before returning to winning ways at UFC 318 by defeating Román Kobiylov.
His status is that of a 13th-ranked contender in the middleweight division, and a showdown with Aliskerov would be a meaningful test in the climb.
Aliskerov's own 2025 campaign included wins over Andre Muniz and John Young Park, making a Costa showdown a fitting step in the division's ladder.
The developing storyline adds weight to what would be a marquee crossroad in a division where every forward step matters.
Punchline 1: Costa's schedule is tighter than his right hand when the bell rings—it's always maybe until the cage calls.
Punchline 2: If this fight happens, the crowd will roar, and so will the manager's invoice—show me the money and the adrenaline.
